Undoubtedly, BIG's the Mountain housing project stands out for its originality. The architects had overcome the restrictions that usually bind the housing developments to propose a set of buildings that are quite unique.It is therefore not surprising to see the project getting the recognition that it deserves. he Mountain has been selected as a winner of an Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2009 Award for Excellence: Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) competition. The Awards for Excellence competition is widely regarded as the land use industry’s most prestigious recognition program. The awards recognize the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design. The criteria for the awards include leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnership, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial success.

BIG's founding partner had the following comments: “After winning the Housing category at last year’s World Architecture Festival in Barcelona and being shortlisted for the Mies van der Rohe Award 2009 and receiving the 2009 MIPIM Award we are becoming aware of the fact, that other people appreciate this building too. So we are very proud and honored, to have been acknowledged by the ULI EMEA.”The 2009 ULI EMEA Awards for Excellence winning projects were selected from among 17 countries. The winners were announced Friday June 30th during an Awards for Excellence ceremony hosted in London by ULI EMEA, which serves nearly 2,600 members across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Founded in 1936, the Urban Land Institute now has more than 40,000 members worldwide representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines, working in private enterprise and public service. As the preeminent, multidisciplinary real estate forum, ULI facilitates the open exchange of ideas, information and experience among local, national and international industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating better places. The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.Describing the project, 2009 ULI EMEA AwardJury Chair said: “The Mountain is wonderful example of success that showcases creativity, innovation, and long-term thinking. Perhaps now more than ever, the ULI Awards for Excellence program reminds us of the key difference that responsible design and development can make in terms of longevity and overall community sustainability.”

The competition is part of the Institute’s Awards for Excellence program, established in 1979, which is based on ULI’s guiding principle that achievement of excellence in land use practice should be recognized and rewarded.The 2009 ULI Awards for Excellence: EMEA winners were selected by a jury of land use development and design experts. Members were Ian D. Hawksworth, managing director, Capital & Counties, London; Patrick Albrand, managing director, Hines France, Paris; Max Barclay, head of communications and internal operations, Stronghold Invest AB, Stockholm; Luca de Ambrosis Ortigara, partner, Realty Partners SRL, Milan; Andrew Gould, chief executive, Jones Lang LaSalle England, London; Hakan Kodal, president and chief executive, KREA Gayrimenku/Real Estate, Istanbul; and Karsten von Koeller, chairman, Lone Star Germany, and non-executive director and member of the investment committee, W.P. Carey LLC, Frankfurt.